This will quietly have a big effect on fantasy leagues. It doesn't seem like that big of a deal for Santana, who already plays every day and will be drafted as a catcher anyway. However, adding 3B-eligibility, in addition to the 1B-eligibility he already has, only enhances his value. And if you take away the wear and tear of squatting behind the plate 80-90 times a year, his numbers figure to improve.

Carlos Santana (AP Photo)

Keeper leaguers probably don't like the idea of losing a top-tier catcher, but it's possible Santana will still see enough time at backstop to keep him eligible next year. Even if he doesn't, he'll still have plenty of value. Last year, he would've ranked 14th among 3Bs, according to our Roto Rater. Entering his age-28 season and, again, figuring to be fresher throughout the year, we think he'll improve on that. He had a career-high Roto Rater value last year (8.03), and it likely helped that he played a career-low 84 games at catcher.

The real effect of Santana's move to the Hot Corner can be found throughout the rest of Cleveland's lineup. Yan Gomes, who hit .319/.385/.485 in the second half last year, is slated to be the everyday backstop. The 26-year-old slugger was already being tabbed as a breakout candidate this year, but this just seals it. Perhaps he'll wither under the strain of everyday duties, but Gomes' impressive minor league numbers (.287/.345/.484) bode well for his chances.

But it's not just Gomes who gains value. By sending expected-3B – and potential lineup weak link – Lonnie Chisenhall to the bench, the Indians have all sorts of options with what amounts to their DH position. This open spot likely won't be filled by one player, but Chisenhall (who, to be fair, is just 25 and slugged .676 in 27 Triple-A games last year), Ryan Raburn (.543 SLG last year, including .617 vs. LHP), David Cooper (.301/.376/.470 in his minor league career) and, unfortunately, Jason Giambi all will likely see time. Daily league owners can find plenty of value here, especially if they play matchups. There's also potential in weekly leagues if one guy wins the job outright, especially since Chisenhall is eligible at 3B and Raburn could potentially gain eligibility at 2B.

Of course, this could backfire on the Tribe. Gomes might not be ready for prime time and Santana could be a mess defensively, affecting his psyche and hurting him at the plate. But for now, this is an exciting development. Despite not being star-laden, Cleveland has one of the most versatile lineups in baseball, with almost every player able to seamlessly shift positions. The potential for extra at-bats – mixed with the potential for added positional eligiblity from numerous players – is the kind of thing fantasy owners should be looking for.

And it all starts with Santana and Gomes, both of whom will be valuable commodities on draft day.